Issue with NASA's Lucy Spacecraft Launched for Asteroid Exploration

NASA is investigating whether it will attempt to fix a solar panel jammed in the wing of its recently launched spacecraft "Lucy," which is set to explore an unprecedented number of asteroids. The issue arose shortly after the spacecraft's launch on October 16 for a 12-year mission. After measuring the electrical current this week, NASA reported on Wednesday that one of the giant circular solar panels on "Lucy" is extending only between 75% and 95%. There is a cord holding it in place, preventing it from moving. Any attempt to reopen the wing, which has a diameter of 24 feet (7 meters), will not occur before mid-November. NASA stated that the problem has not affected "Lucy’s" journey into space so far, so there is no rush to determine the next steps. Everything else on the spacecraft is functioning correctly. The nearly billion-dollar "Lucy" mission aims to explore seven asteroids known as "Trojan," which share Jupiter's orbit around the sun, as well as another space rock closer to Earth. "Lucy" is expected to fly within 600 miles (965 kilometers) of each target.